This episode is about knowing. We introduce ourselves, the podcast, and how we define teaching and learning for justice, liberation, and abolition through conversations with two teachers from our own schooling experiences: Ms. Brenda Fleming and Michelle Cotnoir. In this episode's Resource Room, we hear from Chase-Mitchell about a book that keeps her grounded in her teaching practice and Zoe, a high school student from Virginia, shares a poem about language, identity, and the power to become. Who are your podcast hosts? (monét and Erin) Why this podcast, why now, and why should we join together on this journey toward liberation in our schools? Well, you'll just have to listen. Thank you for coming with us.

Episode 1: Teaching for Joy, Liberation, and Abolition

Episode Description for Anchor & Others 

During our three-part series on the carceral curriculum in our schools, we’ll be asking, “How do we abolish carcerality in our schools (and beyond it)?” In this first episode, we learn about curriculum violence, a manifestation of carcerality, through a conversation with Dr. Stephanie Jones, Assistant Professor of Education at Grinnell College. Dr. Jones defines curriculum violence as “planned activities, planned assessments within the classroom space that are particularly harmful to Black and Brown students and their knowledges,” whether it is intended to be or not. We also discuss how educators enact racial trauma via the carceral curriculum in the classrooms and ways we can be accountable to ending curriculum violence in our schools. In our Resource Room, Kishanna Laurie shares about her Reiki practice of self-care. Erin’s former student, Lissa, shares her poem, “Where I’m From,” celebrating the many parts of her identity. And, throughout Erin and monét invite you to sit with the violence we have enacted as educators and how we can repair and transform our classroom communities through our practices. Thank you for walking with us. 

This Episode's Intellectual Inheritance:
”Ending Curriculum Violence,” Dr. Stephanie Jones, Spring 2020 Learning for Justice Magazine 
“Mapping Racial Trauma in Schools,” Dr. Stephanie Jones 
We Will Not Cancel Us and Other Dreams of Transformative Justice, adrienne maree brown
“The Known Unknown: The Limits of Empathy,” Camille Rankine
“Where I’m From” George Ella Lyon, mentor text for Lissa’s poem 
Phyllis Jordan at Victor Novell Massage & Wellness
Original music by Mara Johnson, Elliott Wilkes, and monét cooper

Episode 2: Carceral Curriculum--Owning What Is Ours

Dancing on Desks asks educators what would happen if we were teaching, learning, and living in ways that engage justice-full, liberatory, and abolitionist teaching and learning practices in our schools and beyond. The stories, experiences, and voices of educators and students, school staff and caregivers are centered. Your hosts are monét and Erin. Let's get free, y'all.

Episode 2: Carceral Curriculum--Owning What Is Ours

Dancing on Desks

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